President Bush, Indonesian President Megawati Hold Joint Press Conference
Remarks by President Bush and President Megawati of Indonesia in Joint Press Availability
Bali International Airport
Bali, Indonesia

PRESIDENT MEGAWATI: President George Bush and I have just
concluded the meeting. I have met with His Excellency, the President,
several times. Our last meeting was in New York on 23rd September,
2003, when we attended the 58th session of the United Nations General
Assembly.

I attach great importance of my personal relation with President
Bush, as well as of bilateral relations between Indonesia and the
United States, for both are the large democratic countries in the world
and have great potential of cooperation.

We started our meeting today by conducting bilateral talks. It was
followed by working luncheon, attended by a number of members of the
Cabinet. During the talks, we had discussed issues of common concern
in the counterterrorism; U.S. support to the democratization, --
process in Indonesia; military cooperation; U.S. support to the
territorial integrity and national unity of the unitary state of the
Republic of Indonesia; and renunciation to any terrorist movement in
the country; U.S. support to the Indonesian economy through a -- free
process, particularly in the post-IMF program; and cooperation in the
field of education in Indonesia.

In addition, we have exchange of view of various regional and
international issues, among others, on the latest development in Asia
and the situation in the Middle East.

Despite the fact that we do not always share common perspective,
but we both continue to hold mutual understanding that it is to the
interest of the two countries to maintain consultation and cooperation
in the pursuit of global peace.

Following bilateral talks and lunch, I accompanied President Bush
in his meeting with some imminent leading figures from Islam, Hindu,
and Christian. I regard this particular meeting as positive
development as the Indonesian religion figures had the opportunity to
conduct upon and direct dialogue with the leader of the U.S.
administration. I am pleased to note that both sides were in agreement
about the importance of religion tolerance as one of the major pillars
of democracy in Indonesia.

My current meeting with President Bush might be the last before the
two countries carry out general election in 2004. We will continue to
foster cordial and cooperative bilateral relations.

May I now invite President George W. Bush to present his remarks.
Thank you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon.
Thank you very much. Laura and I are honored to be in Indonesia, the
world's third largest democracy and the world's -- home to the world's
largest Muslim population. Indonesia is a vital partner, and Indonesia
is a friend to America. We share a commitment to democracy and
tolerance. We stand together against terrorism. I thank President
Megawati for her leadership, for her friendship, and for her
hospitality today.

The success of Indonesia as a pluralistic and democratic state is
essential to the peace and prosperity of this region. Indonesians
profess many faiths and honor many traditions. And like Americans, you
understand that diversity can be a source of strength. Your national
motto, "Unity in diversity," sounds a lot like our own -- "Out of many,
one." Americans admire the way Indonesians maintain unity and balance
modern ideas with ancient traditions and deep religious faith.

More than 200 years ago, the founders of my country recognized and
protected the essential role of religion in society within a democratic
and pluralistic constitution. Your constitution affirms the same
inalienable right of all to worship freely, a gift from your founders
that enriches the Indonesian nation to this day.

Earlier, just minutes ago, we met with five Indonesian religious
leaders, including leaders of Indonesia's two largest Islamic
organizations, who are sustaining Indonesia's tradition of tolerance
and moderation. Americans hold a deep respect for the Islamic faith,
which is professed by a growing number of my own citizens. We know
that Islam is fully compatible with liberty and tolerance and progress,
because we see the proof in your country and in our own.

Terrorists who claim Islam as their inspiration defile one of the
world's great faiths. Murder has no place in any religious tradition,
must find no home in Indonesia.

Nearly three months ago, America shared Indonesia's grief when a
suicide bomber killed 14 people outside a Jakarta hotel. One year ago,
miles from where we now stand, Indonesia suffered the worst terrorist
attack in its history when over 200 innocent men and women lost their
lives. Today we pay tribute to the victims, we remember the suffering
of their families, and we reaffirm our commitment to win the war on
terror.

President Megawati has confronted this evil directly. She was one
of the first leaders to stand with me after September the 11th. Under
her leadership, Indonesia is hunting and finding dangerous killers.
America appreciates Indonesia's strong cooperation in the war on
terror. America believes that freedom and democracy are critical to
defeating terror, because free nations that respect human rights do not
breed hatred, resentment, and the ideologies of murder.

The United States is working for democracy and freedom and economic
progress in Afghanistan and Iraq, to lift millions out of poverty, to
overcome years of brutal repression, help create a more secure and safe
world. And the United States strongly supports a healthy democracy in
Indonesia, for the sake of your own people, and for the sake of peace.

Indonesians have made good progress over the last five years in
strengthening democracy and in building the civil institutions that
sustain freedom. Next year your country will reach an important
milestone, when some 150 million Indonesians vote in the nation's first
ever elected -- presidential election. The United States is working
with Indonesia to support these historic elections. In a short time,
Indonesia has traveled far down the road to full democracy. And
Indonesians should be proud of this accomplishment.

We'll also support Indonesia's efforts to build an education system
that teaches values and discourages extremism. I proposed to our
Congress a six-year, $157-million program to support basic education in
Indonesia.

The partnership between our two peoples is strong and is growing
stronger. In all that lies ahead, in the defense of freedom, in the
advance of tolerance and democracy, Indonesia will have a firm ally in
the American government. And you'll have the friendship and the
respect of the American people.

Thank you, Madam President. (Applause.)

I think we'll take a couple of questions -- is that not true --
from alternating both sides?

PRESIDENT MEGAWATI: Yes.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Would you like to call on somebody first? I'll
call on him. You call on -- (laughter.) You sure you want to call on
him? (Laughter.) Okay.

Q Mr. President, some of the religious leaders that you just
met with said that U.S. foreign policy is biased toward Israel and
against Muslims, making it easy for the terrorists to find recruits.
How do you answer those charges? And how do you deal with that
situation?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Our foreign policy is for a development of a
Palestinian state that lives side by side with Israel in peace. And
I'm the first President to ever articulate such a vision, and I still
believe it is possible. In order to achieve a Palestinian state living
side by side in peace, there needs to be leadership willing to fight
off the terror that is trying to prevent the state from emerging.

Q I would like to ask question in Indonesian. Because your
visit to Indonesia has been opposed by many people, what is your
views? And is there a possibility of a change in your foreign policy
view, which is seen as imbalanced toward the Islamic world?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, I strongly believe in peace and freedom. I
think it's important for the world to be as free as possible. And I
strongly believe that free nations are peaceful nations. And my
foreign policy promotes that.

America is also a compassionate nation. We lead the world in
helping feed the hungry and battle disease. I look forward to working
with the President in terms of allowing Indonesians to use our money to
help implement an education system that the government decides, not
America. No, I'm proud of our foreign policy.

PRESIDENT MEGAWATI: Can I still add something? Because you also
spontaneously accepted the invitation of -- my invitation to come to
Indonesia, which proves that he is very open to come to this country of
ours in this spontaneous way.

Q North Korea is rejecting your offer as laughable, and still
insisting on a non-aggression treaty. How do you proceed from here?
And are you confident that Iran is foreswearing nuclear weapons?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, first of all, I want to thank the foreign
ministers from Great Britain and France and Germany, and their
governments, for taking a very strong universal message to the Iranians
that they should disarm. The Iranians have -- it looks like they are
accepting the demands of the free world, and now it's up to them to
prove that they've accepted the demands. that's a very positive
development.

On terms of North Korea, we had a really good visit at APEC about
how best to resolve the North Korean issue peacefully, how best to
convince the North Koreans to disarm, at least abandon their nuclear
ambitions -- nuclear weapons ambitions. And we had good progress in
Bangkok. And there's going to be a series of these statements that I
guess are trying to stand up to the five nations that are now united in
convincing North Korea to disarm. And my only reaction is we'll
continue to send the very clear message to the North Koreans. The good
news is that there's other nations besides America now sending the
message.

Q -- is that helping the climate?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Launching missiles into the sea? No, of course,
not. Look, the guy, he -- we'll determine whether he's serious or
not. He wanted to have dialogue; we're having dialogue. And he wanted
a security agreement, and we're willing to advance a multiparty
security agreement, assuming that he is willing to abandon his nuclear
weapons designs and programs. And we'll just stay the course.

Wait a minute, you're crowding out the host press. This is
unbelievable. (Laughter.) This is unilateralism at its worst. I've
never heard -- (laughter.) Two and two, Stretch. Sorry.

Q Mr. President --

PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes.

Q -- what is the message you would like to convey to the
Indonesian people with this three-hour visit, the shortest one that you
make among the six-nation visit in this journey?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, well, first of all, it's been a -- it might
not have been very long, but it's been very productive. And my message
is, thank you for the hospitality, and thank you for the wonderful
exchange we've had with the President.

I'm traveling to a lot of countries in a very quick period of time,
and I appreciate the fact that the Indonesian government was able to
accommodate my desires to come here. And we've got a lot in common.
We both appreciate democracy; we both care about trade so that our
nations can prosper; we both care about educating people so that
children have a chance to succeed in life; we both love freedom and we
both want the world to be peaceful. And we had a great exchange along
those lines.

So my message to the Indonesian people is, thank you very much for
the warm hospitality. And I want to thank the President for the warm
hospitality, as well.

Thank you all very much.

That's it.

PRESIDENT MEGAWATI: That's it?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Unless you want to keep answering questions.
(Laughter.) I'll stay here as long as you want to.